Menon, as always, champions teens by allowing them the space and pace to make decisions, succeed or fail, learn, and blossom. Ashish and Sweetie share narrative duties, and both are flanked by supportive friends and caring parents-even if their approaches to love can be painful at times. Ashish and Sweetie accept the arrangement, each feeling they have something to prove, wondering if this arranged match will work, and not knowing what will happen when Sweetie’s parents find out. Furious with her mother’s constant ragging about her weight, Sweetie takes matters into her own hands and agrees to the Patels’ four-date contract without telling her parents. When Ashish’s mother proposes the match, Sweetie’s mother adamantly insists that their children aren’t compatible-namely because Sweetie is fat. Their choice is Sweetie Nair, Piedmont High’s track star. Bummed after being dumped by his college girlfriend, he challenges his parents to make good on their constant threat to find him an Indian American girl to date. Seventeen-year-old, swoonworthy Ashish Patel is the basketball star of Richmond Academy. Because I had what amounted to a six-month hiatus from Booklist due to two knee replacements and lengthy physical therapies, I’ve decided to include this year’s SHOUT OUTS. The order in which I list them is by publication date of the books. Giving the gift of a book lasts long after the recipient has closed the cover for the last time. If you’re looking for a gift for a young friend or relative, you might find the perfect title here. Why did I give them starred reviews? Simply because each offered something special above and beyond excellent writing and storytelling skills. This year’s list is comprised of two amazing young adult novels and one truly unique middle grade novel. My 2019 involvement with Booklist yielded four rejected books and twenty published reviews, including the three starred reviews below. I take joy in the fact that there’s such excitement in this world of books, and I love its changes, particularly in terms of diversity. I enjoy reading debut novels, works from authors just a few books old, and books from established authors. I am a Books for Youth reviewer for Booklist, a publication of the American Library Association, and I have the privilege of reading a wide variety of early, middle grade, young adult books each year.
0 kommentar(er)
